31 Jan 2006 SitRep on Mooring Construction

View from the sail of the 394 near the end of the work day for the city crews. Progress is moving along rapidly. Note the new rip-rapp. (CNLR Mayor's Office photo)

Progress Progress Progress

Things are bustling along the river front. The North Shore Maritime Center is taking shape. The CNLR Street Department is busy preparing walkways and parking. All the while, AIMM staff is preparing the Razorback, Savannah Lou, Mary Munns and other craft in the flotilla. The Arkansas Queen is taking reservations for cruises. Thanks for your continued support. Please remember AIMM when you are looking for a good place to send $$! (Photo by CNLR Mayor's Office) 

On the Day of Her Final Move

Mayor Hays (red jacket) explains the final mooring plan to a passenger aboard the Razorback during her move to her permanent mooring. Target date for re-opening is still around the first of March. (CNLR Mayor's Office Photo) 

Razorback Underway Again

Now that the museum's permanent mooring facility is largely finished, Razorback will get underway again today at 10:00 a.m. for what is almost certainly her last voyage.

She will be towed from her temporary dock back down to her permanent home next to the Main Street bridge, directly across from the Rivermarket.

Preparations are well underway for our re-opening in just a few weeks.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 501-371-8320.

New Book by Former Razorback Officer

Bruce J. Schick, CDR, USN (ret), submarine officer and former Operations Officer and Navigation Officer aboard Razorback from 1967-1969 has written a new book:

This is a no-holds barred look at life in the Navy during the Cold War. CDR Schick grew up during World War II, entered the Naval Academy in 1954, graduated in the upper 15% of his class, and after a short stint aboard a destroyer (during which, among other exploits, he sliced his ship's awning in two with his sword during a ceremony) he entered the Submarine School in Groton, CT in 1960. His final assignment was as Commanding Officer, USS Clamagore (SS 343).

Whale's Tales is a GREAT read, sprinkled lightly with period photographs, including all of CDR Schick's submarine assignments. The book is also sprinkled with coarse language because CDR Schick pulls no punches in his feelings about life in the Navy, nuclear submarines, his shipmates, or even his superiors. He admits that his lack of tact caused him problems and unabashidly tells of times when he created, "... a new enemy for life."

But his honesty, his love of life, and his love for his country leaps out from every page. At the end when CDR Schick writes, "I wouldn't do one thing differently.", you are reminded of a quote from another Navy veteran who said, "And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"

(That Navy veteran was, of course, President John F. Kennedy.)

Copies will be available at the AIMM bookstore shortly, or they can be ordered directly from the author for $19.95 plus postage. CDR Schick can be reached via e-mail at bjschick@earthlink.net.

AIMM Closed during Construction & Moving

Our new, permanent, moorings are almost complete. The process of moving is about to begin.

This is a complex process, involving moving not just the submarine, but also three barges. Once the barges and submarine are moved, then gangways have to be relocated and secured, and then interior work needs to be completed on the barges and new displays will have to be built, artifacts moved, etc.

Therefore, we will be closed to the public until further notice.

We expect to re-open in mid-February.

We will keep everyone posted as work progesses.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.